Lightning rod standard or brace



(No Model.)

T. H. PATEE 82; S. R. LAWSHE.

LIGHTNING ROD STANDARD OR BRAGE- I I N0. 359,940. Patent-ed Mar. 22, 1887;

UNlTED Srarns ATENT @rrrcs.

THEODORUS II. PATEE AND SPENCER R. LAXVSHE, OF GREENOASTLE, IND.

LIGHTNING-ROD STANDARD OR BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,940, dated March 22, 1887.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, Tnnononus H. PA- rnn and SPENCER R. Lswsnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Grcencastle, Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lightning-Rod Standards or Braces, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in standards adapted particularly for supporting the upturned end of lightningrods.

The object of the invention is to produce a standard which shall be simple, durable, and economic in construction, and which is capable of being made to occupy a minimum amount of space during transportation, a further object being to provide the standard of a construction by which the brackets for em: bracing the rod are firmly held or maintained against either axial or vertical displacement, without the employment of solder or screws, heretofore resorted to for this purpose.

With these ends in view our invention consists in a standard embodying in its organization a number of strands of metal twisted to gether at their upper ends, and having their lower ends free to be bent outward to form a base, in combination with one or more rodbrackets secured upon the twisted portion, having their attaching loops or shanks formed with an opening of a like configuration as the twisted strands, substantially as will hereinafter be more particularly described, and pointed out in the claim. 4

In the practice of our invention, before twisting the strands we first slip on the holders or brackets for securing the rod to the standard, and after arranging them at the proper points we twist the strands together for asuitable portion of their length, leaving the remaining portion free to be spread out as a base, and it will thus be seen that the twisting of the strands firmly secures the brackets which the standard is composed. They are twisted together for about half their length to form the solid upper portion, B. The lower ends of the strands are provided with eyes for the reception of nails or screws for securing them to the roof. These eyes may be formed by bending the metal back upon itself, or by flattening and then punching openings of the necessary size, or by first flattening the end of the same and then bending it back on itself to form the eye, or by any other mechanical device for doing such work.

In order to make the upper portion as solid as possible, we preferably twist the strands together before galvanizing, so that by that process the parts may be cemented firmly together. Another means of securing the strands together is by providing the holder for securing the rod to the standard with an opening in its shank of a shape conforming to that of the crosssection of the portion 13, so that a girder is formed and the parts held firmly together when the holder is in place.

When the standards are designed for transportation, the lower disconnected strands are brought together and occupy a very small amount of space.

\Ve are aware that lightning-rod standards have been heretofore patented wherein the bracket or holder for the rod is formed with an opening whose contour is the same as the part of the standard around which it fits; but in such instance referred to the said part is not twisted and the bracket or holder is secured in place against movement either by a solder or set-screw.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is A lightning-rod standard constructed of a number of strands of metal twisted together at their upper ends, and having their lower ends spread out to form a base, in combination with one or more rod-holders or brackets secured upon the twisted portion, and having openings in their shanks of a configuration conforming to such twisted portion, substantially as set forth, for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THEODORUS H. PATEE. SPENCER R. LAXVSHE. Vitnesses:

James W. COLE, DoRsEY L. Annnnson. 

